Scandinavian Kitchen Design: Minimal, Beautiful, and Cozy
Scandinavian-inspired kitchen featuring custom cabinetry and wooden countertops.
When you think of Scandinavian design, what picture comes to mind? Do you see an IKEA showroom with clean, bright colors and space-saving designs? A simple white room that looks minimal and peaceful?
Scandinavian design focuses on combining an uncluttered, useful, welcoming space with sleek lines and nature-inspired elements.
Key Takeaways
- Scandinavian design focuses on minimalism, clean lines, wood tones, simplicity, and coziness.
- You can bring this look into your kitchen by choosing white cabinets, wood tones, natural elements, and natural lighting.
- Scandi design prioritizes bringing people together–just what a kitchen does best.
Scandanavian kitchen design creates a classic look for a reason: it gives us a calm, beautiful backdrop for our families to enjoy. When used in the kitchen, Scandinavian design presents a light-filled, organized, and functional space that emphasizes togetherness.
McManus Kitchen and Bath is a full service remodeling company with an in-house design team and showroom right here in Tallahassee, FL. Contact us for a design consult.
This kitchen features intergrated appliances and boast natural wood tones in an airy space.
What is Scandinavian Design?
As our favorite cabinet vendor Decor notes, Scandinavian design “is characterized by a minimalist aesthetic, natural wood tones, and light airy spaces. Influenced by Nordic simplicity, Scandi kitchens are both organized and understated.”
Scandi design focuses on clean lines and sleek surfaces, for an uncluttered, minimalist look.
Using lots of natural light, warm wood, light colors, and natural textures, Scandi design is a classic, simple look that will not go out of style anytime soon. And it’s a design that places a high priority on community and togetherness, making it a perfect fit for a family home.
It’s also a “green,” sustainable design as it highlights natural resources like wood and stone, and places a high priority on having fewer, high-quality elements and furniture instead of cheaper, mass-produced ones.
Scandinavian design also pairs well with other styles:
Mid-Century Modern, because the two share a focus on natural light, warm wood, and clean lines.
Contemporary, as both styles incorporate minimalism and sleek surfaces.
Farmhouse, since both place a priority on white and neutral palettes, natural textiles, and cozy vibes.
A Brief History of Scandinavian Design
In the 1930s, five Nordic countries came together to begin a minimalist design movement that focused on comfort and simplicity. And in the 1950s, the international design world started taking notice.
Since that time, Scandinavian design has come to mean clean lines and textures, simplicity and community, comfort and functionality, eco-friendly design and quality. It’s a philosophy and a look that is both modern and timeless.
How to Incorporate Scandinavian Design into Your Kitchen
Since the kitchen is the most hardworking room in your house–and is also the heart of your home–Scandinavian design is the perfect fit.
The overall look of a Scandi kitchen is clean, bright, airy, and uncluttered.
Cabinets and Appliances
To emphasize the sleek look of Scandi kitchens, opt for integrated appliances that sit level with the countertops. Panel-ready appliances have fronts that match your kitchen cabinets, giving you an even more uniform look.
Scandinavian kitchen cabinets are usually flat-paneled.
Choose light wood, white, or a neutral two-tone to keep the space looking bright. Open shelving is a great option that ensures the kitchen doesn’t feel too closed in. But keep in mind that the aim of a Scandi kitchen is minimalism and an uncluttered feel.
Curate your open shelves and display items that are simple and beautiful.
Kitchen faucets and sinks should have a focus on both function and style. The faucet shape can be modern and fun, but keep the finish classic: brushed nickel or matte black are great choices.
Light
One of the key elements in a Scandi kitchen is natural lighting.
In Nordic countries, sunlight is often scarce so homes make the most of what they can get.
If you’re remodeling your home, consider making any windows in your kitchen as large as possible. Use glass doors to bring in as much light as you can. If you can, add skylights to your kitchen ceiling. Large windows and glass doors, plus a light color scheme, will allow you to make the most of the natural lighting your kitchen gets.
Don’t forget your artificial lighting as well. The best kitchen designs feature layered lighting with a combination of task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting.
There are 3 Types of Ligting To Consider
Task lighting shines directly at your workspace–under cabinet lights that illuminate your countertop or pendant lights over your island, for example. In Scandinavian design, pendant lights are often metal or wicker and can be an eye-catching design element, or a simple silhouette that fades into the background.
Ambient lighting is the overhead light that turns on when you walk into the room and flip a switch. Think ceiling-mounted lights that are flush to the ceiling, or can lights (also called recessed lights). These should be unobtrusive and clean-lined.
Accent lighting highlights a specific feature of your kitchen and is used for dim, mood lighting. Cove lights that shine up from the tops of cabinets or in ceiling molding are a good example, as are small lamps placed in the corners of countertops. These lights give a warm, relaxing glow.
Colors
In a Scandi kitchen, white and wood tones are the backbone of color.
Love for the outdoors runs deep in Nordic countries and the design style reflects that with its use of neutral and earthy colors.
Keep everything bright and light, using white, off-white, light gray, and taupe. Natural wood, light pine, and gentle oak add warmth. Bring in pops of nature-inspired blues, greens, or terracottas, but keep them understated.
A great way to bring in color while giving a nod to the nature-loving style is with indoor plants.
Used as both a pop of color and a design element, plants brighten a corner and add life and movement to your space. They keep an all-white or light space from looking sterile. They’re also great for your health and help clean the air!
Textures and Furniture
Scandinavian kitchen design highlights natural textures. Bring in elements of wood, natural stone like slate, and fibers like jute, wicker, and linen.
Remember to keep lines simple and clean, and colors light and restful.
Your kitchen backsplash is a great place to add some texture. Try using white brick, subway tiles, or Zellige tiles. Keeping the backsplash white means that the texture will take center stage but it won’t look busy or cluttered.
Make sure furniture keeps the space bright and airy. A Scandi kitchen isn’t the place for bright or flashy furniture–instead, find pieces that are white, wooden, or maybe a dark blue, and aim for gentle curves and clean lines.
Hygge
You’ve probably heard of hygge, even if you have no idea how to pronounce it! (it’s hyoo-guh, by the way).
It’s a Swedish word that brings to mind cozy comfort, warmth, slow and simple living, and togetherness.
The best Nordic-style kitchens implement hygge. The focus of the space should be on the people who gather there, not the space itself (it’s why minimalism and simplicity are important!). Make sure you have seating (bar stools around an island, a breakfast nook in the corner, or a dining table in an eat-in kitchen).
Use each element of the kitchen to create a welcoming, cozy space for you and your loved ones.
Do You Love the Idea of a Scandinavian Kitchen?
We’re here to help you implement your vision for a Nordic-style kitchen in your home. Our turn-key approach to designing and building means that you can be sure every aspect of your kitchen remodel will be handled in-house and with excellence.
Serving Tallahassee, Florida since 2015, we are ready to tackle your kitchen project. Contact us today and let’s get started.
